Stock-waterer.



No. 635,754. Patented Oct. 3|, |899. 0. DITSWORTH.

sTocK wATEREn.

(Appxicamm mea Apr. 15, 18991) (No Model.)

ma mams PETERS co. Puma-uma., wAsNlNm'oN4 n. c.

vPATENT trice.

OLIVER DITSWORTI-I, OF LANARK, ILLINOIS.

sToCK-wATERER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patentl No. 635,754, dated October 31, 1899.

Application tiled April 15, 1899. Serial No. 713,148. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER DlrswoRTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lanark, in the county of Carroll and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Stock- Waterer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stock-waterers, and has for its object to provide a positive and quickly-acting valve mechanism for automatically controlling the supply of water from the reservoir to the drinking trough or receptacle.

To this end the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied in position to a tank, the latter being broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the iioat and valve operating lever. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional View illustrating the mounting of the lever and the valve.

The same numerals of reference are used to designate like and corresponding parts in each of the igures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a tank or reservoir adapted to contain the supply of drinking-water, and located interiorly and attached to the bottom thereof is the casing 2, which contains and protects the actuating mechanism of the present invention. It will be understood that the water is adapted to pass through the casing 2 to the drinking cup or trough 3, located eXteriorly of the tank and connected to the casing by means of a suitable pipe or passage 4.

By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the hollow casing 2 is comparatively shallow and is provided with an inletopening 5, formed through the top of the casing and adjacent to the end of the pipe 4 in order that the water may pass freely through the inlet-opening and be conveyed by the pipe 4 directly to the drinking-cup 3.

The ingress of water from the tank into the casing is adapted to be controlled by a valve 6, located exteriorly of the inlet-opening and Yof said extremity.

automatically operated by means of a float 7 inclosed within the hollow casing. This float is preferably in the form of a hollowsealed 'box and is operatively connected to the valve 6 by means of a lever S, pivoted intermediate of its ends to the casing. As clearly indicated in Fig. 3, it will be seen that one end of the lever is deiiected or offset below the plane thereof and provided with a yoke 9 of substantially D shape, the transverse bar 10, connecting the opposite ends of the yoke, being connected pivotally tothe top of the iioat 7 by means of a suitable bearing-eye 11, extending the entire length of said transverse bar, so as to prevent lateral movement of the float upon the lever. The opposite end of the lever is deflected upward and given a substantially L shape, as at 12, and theivalve 6 is connected to the prong ofthe L-shaped extremity by means of a suit-able screw-fastening 13, forming a stem which passes through an opening in the end 12 of the lever, removably connecting the valve to the upper face It will be understood that the lever has a sliding engagement with the stein 13 and that by means of the screw the distance between the .valve and lever may be increased or diminished, whereby the operation of the valve may be regulated to open and close the inlet-opening more quickly or slowly, as desired. The stem 13 passes loosely and slidingly through the extremity of the lever and is free to move therein, so that the valve is rendered self-adjusting, which insures the proper seating of the valve and obvia-tes leakage. Intermediate its ends and nearer the valve end thereof the lever is provided with an upstanding lug or shoulder 14, and the lever is adapted to extend upwardly through a suitable diametric slot 15, formed through the top of the casing adjacent to and in line with the pipe 4. Inclosing this slot and extending above the top of the casing 2 is a housing 16, having intermediate its ends an upward extension 17, within which the lug or shoulder 14 of the lever is adapted to be mounted upon a suitable transverse pivot-pin 18. The outer portion of this casing is enlarged, so as to inclose the inlet-opening 5, and adapted to have its upper edge 19 provide a valve-seat for the valve 6. Formed centrally through the lioat is an opening 20,

having no communication with the interior of the float, and extending through the opening is a supporting-rod 2l, connected through the top of the float to the inner end of the housing 16, and adapted to engage the bottom of the float-casing, whereby the casing 2 is prevented from being collapsed by the weight of the water contained within the tank l.

The outlet-opening 22, which is formed through the peripheral edge of the casing, is provided with an internally-threaded and ou twardly-projecting collar 23, having opposite transversely-alined ears 2t, adapted to receive suitable fastenings, whereby the device may be fastened to the bottom of the tank. The inner end of the pipe a is exteriorly threaded, so as to removably connect the pipe and the drinking-cup 3 with the casing 2.

In the operation of the device, the float being in its lowest position and the inlet-opening 5 opened thereby, the water flows freely through the inlet-openiu g and into the drinking-cup by means of the pipe 4. Then the water in the drinking-cup has reached a predetermined level, there will also be sufficient water in the casing 2 to elevate the float, whereby the valve 6 is operated to close the inlet-opening 5 and prevent the further outiow of water from the tank to the drinkingcup. As the water is appropriated by the stock from the drinking-cup the level of water is lowered thereby and the oat permitted to settle, whereby the valve will again open to v'permit of the passage of water from the tank to the drinking-cup. It will thus be seen that the operation of the device is automatic, whereby the level of the water in the drinking-cup is maintained at a constant level and overiiow of the water is effectively prevented.

By reason of the inner end of the lever being the longer and connected centrally to the float it will be apparent that the entire effect of the movement of the float is conveyed to the valve 6, so as to quickly and positively actuate the same, and as the valve is located exteriorly of the casing it receives the weight of the water in thetank and is thereby more firmly seated than if it were contained within the casing. The purpose of providing the inner end of the lever with a yoke is to connect the lever centrally of the float andl to embrace and thereby avoid the supportingrod 2l in the operation of the float and lever. The opening 20, through which the supporting-rod 2l extends, should be of a size to permit of the slight lateral movement of the iioat caused by its connection with the operatinglever S.

The present invention provides an exceedingly practical and useful controlling means for stock-waterers, as the parts thereof are effectively housed and protected by the casing 2, and the valve 6, being located exteriorly of said casing and upon the top thereof, receives the weight of the water within the tank and is thereby held iirmly upon its seat 19 when the supply of water to the drinking-cup is cut off. Furthermore, the drinking-cup is located somewhat below the valve and the casing 2, whereby all dirt and sediment will eifectually drain to the cup and the operating parts of the device are kept free from all foreign matter. It will also be noted that the supporting-rod 2l, in addition to preventing the collapse of the casing 2, also provides a guide for the float in its movement up and down within the casing.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacriiicing any of the advantages of this invention.

Vhat I claim isl. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a supplytank having an exterior drinking cup or trough, of a casing having an inlet-opening and located within the tank, a valve adapted to control the inletopening, a iioat located within the casing and provided with an opening extending through the float, a rod connecting the opposite sides of the casingextending through the opening of the float and adaptedto support the sides of the casing against the weight of the water and also provide a guide for the float, means for operatively connecting the float with the valve, and a pipe or passage communicating from the interior of the casing to the drinking cup or trough, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a supply-tank having an exterior drinking cup or trough, of a casingv having an inlet-opening provided in its top and aslotcommunicating with the opening, an upwardly-projecting housing inclosing the slot, a float located within the casing, an operating-lever connected at one end to the iioat ext-ending upward through the slot through the top of the casing and pivoted intermediate its ends within the housing, the outer end of the lever being extended upward throughthe inlet-opening and provided with a valve extcriorly of the inlet-opening, whereby the weight of the water within the tank aids in seating the valve, and a pipe or passage communicating from the interior of the casing to the drinking cup or trough, substantially as shown and described.

In a device of the class described, the combination with a supply-tank having an exterior drinking cup or trough, of a casing located within the tank and provided with an inlet-opening, a float arranged within the casing and provided with a central opening formed entirely through the float, a valve for the inlet-opening, a lever carrying the valve at one end and provided at its opposite end with a yoke which embraces the opening in the float and is pivoted or hinged to the top of the latter, a supporting-rod connecting the opposite sides of the casing and extending through the iioat, and a pipe or passage com- IOO municating from the interior of the casing to the drinking cup or trough, substantially as shown and described.

4t. In a device of the class described, the combination with a supply-tank having an exterior drinking cup or trough, of a casing having an inlet-opening and a diametric slot communicating With the opening, the casing being located within the tank, a housing projecting upwardly from the top of the casing and inclosing the slot and forming a valveseat around the inlet-opening and provided with an intermediate vertical extension, a loat located Within the casing, a lever having an intermediate upstanding shoulder arranged within the vertical extension of the housing and mounted therein upon a transverse pivot-pin, the inner end of the lever being deected or offset downwardly and pivoted or hinged to the top of the float, the opposite outer end of the lever being provided with a substantially L-shaped upstanding extension adapted to project through the inletopening and above the top of the housing, a valve connected to the extension and adapted to be seated upon the upper edge of that portion of the housing surrounding the inlet-opening, and a pipe or passage communicating from the interior of the casing to the drinking cup or trough, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a supply-tank having an exterior drinking cup or trough, of a casing provided With an inlet-opening in its top, a valve adapted to close the inlet-opening and provided with a stem, and a float-operated lever connected with the valve and having an opening in which the valve-stem is itted to slide, to afford alimited independent movement of the valve, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a supply-tank having an exterior drinking cup or trough, of a casing provided with an inlet-opening, a valve having a stem adjustably connected thereto so that it may be lengthened and shortened, and a float-operated lever having a slidable engagement with said stem, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supply-tank, a casing pro'- vided with an inlet-opening and an outlet opening and located Within the tank, a valve for the inlet-opening, a float arranged Within the casing, means operatively connecting the float and the Valve, an outwardlyprojecting collar encircling the outlet-opening and pro= vided with opposite ears, whereby the casing may be connected to the tank, a drinking cup or trough located exteriorly of the tank, and a pipe extending through the side of the tank in communication with the drinking cup or trough and having a removable connection with the collar and communicating with the interior of the casing, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a supply-tank having an exterior drinking cup or trough, of a casing provided with an inlet opening, a valve adapted to control said opening, a float having an elongated bearing-eye provided upon its upper side and arranged Within the cas ing, a lever connected at one end to the valve and having its opposite end provided with a substantially D-shaped yoke, the transverse straight bar of the yoke being pivotally received Within the bearing-eye on the iioat, whereby lateral movement of the latter upon the lever is prevented, and' a pipe or passage communicating from the interior of the casing to the drinking cup or trough, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLIVER DITSWORTH. 

